Archive of Our Own ^beta

In her U.A. uniform, Tooru is just a shirt, skirt, and shoes. At least, that’s how she feels when she’s shouldered in the hallway and nearly loses her footing.  

“Oh, shit. You okay, babe?” Mina’s grip on Tooru tightens. If they hadn’t been walking arm in arm, Tooru probably would have gone down or, at the very least, gotten sideswiped by another student. 

“Yeah,” Tooru laughs, pouring as much sunshine and vigor into her tone as she can — anything to convey the smile that Mina can’t see. It’s fine, truly. Tooru is used to being bumped into and run over.  

Mina’s brow furrows, and one of her perfectly penciled eyebrows shoots up.  

“I wasn’t paying attention,” Tooru adds with a shrug, keeping an iron hold on her unaffected tone.   

“No,” Mina bristles, a frowning tugging at her lips. “They weren’t paying attention.”  

Sticking to her path of indifference, Tooru rolls her eyes and shakes her head. 

“I’m so glad the weekend is here,” she hums, changing the topic. Mina gives her a pointed look but lets the matter drop. 

“Oh my god, same. You’re coming with us to the mall tomorrow, right?” Mina squeezes Tooru’s arm and beams.  

As with any other shopping center, there isn’t anything particularly exciting about the mall. During the day, white-collar workers stop by the cafes while single parents and night shift workers bustle shop to shop. In the afternoons and evenings, teens, families, and wanderers mill about. 

Still, it’s nice to get off campus, especially with how tight security has been in recent months. Other than the impromptu karaoke field trip led by Ectoplasm, Class 1-A hasn’t tasted fresh air in ages and grows more pent up by the day.  

Mina, having pestered enough to get the teens permission to leave, spent the better part of the week rallying a shopping crew consisting of her usual squad with a few additions. Of course, it hadn’t hurt that she brought up the explosive, rival elephants in the room, insisting that it would do everyone a lot of good if Bakugou was able to get away from Deku for a few hours.  

“Do you even need to ask?” Tooru snickers, bumping Mina’s shoulder playfully. “Of course I’m going!” 

“Just checking,” Mina snorts, swatting at Tooru.  

Riffling through her colorful dresser, Tooru groans. Hunting for the perfect going out look is more grueling than Aizawa-sensei’s training. For as much effort as she’s putting into the chore, she might as well be sweating. At least, she’d been able to coax Kyouka into keeping her company during her arduous mission. 

During the week, Tooru’s gloved hands are tied. Donning her boring, school-issued uniform is an unavoidable fashion faux pas.  

In her free time, however, limitless opportunities to express herself loud and proud abound, and Tooru takes full advantage of each passing chance. Outside of being bubbly and animated, drawing eyes with her bright ensembles is the easiest way for her to garner attention.  

According to Mina, Tooru is a certified U.A. trendsetter and hottie. While the sentiment is flattering, the invisible girl isn’t sure she buys into that. She believes Mina does — but others? It’s far too lovely to be true and, when everyone is dressed similarly, impossible to confirm. Her heart swells with adoration for Mina’s dedication to hyping her up, though. She couldn’t ask for a better best friend. 

“That looks nice,” Kyouka supplies from Tooru’s bed, eyeing the acid dyed tee hovering in the air. 

“Yeah,” Tooru concedes. “It’s not right, though.” With a sigh, she tosses the top into the mountain of rejects on the floor. 

“What’s wrong with it?” Kyouka twirls an earphone jack around her index finger and resumes scrolling through her phone.  

“It just doesn’t pop, ya know?” 

Looking up from her screen, Kyouka gives Tooru a questioning stare.  

“I just wanna make the most of this chance,” Tooru sighs, tossing a transparent, plastic skirt over her shoulder.  

“It’s just the mall.” Kyouka flops back on Tooru’s pink bed. “You’re overthinking it.” 

“Kyouka,” Tooru whines, flapping her arms. “Just because you look cool effortlessly doesn’t mean that everyone else wakes up ready to rock and roll.” Kyouka snorts and rolls her eyes. 

Returning to her ravaged dresser, Tooru continues to excavate her options. After a moment, she tosses a black, cropped cami emblazoned with the word ‘sweet’ in hot pink at the bed. Catching it, Kyouka holds up between her fingers and shrugs. 

“With what?” she asks, setting the top aside. 

Tooru stoops to open one of the dresser’s bottom drawers. She casts aside a faux leather skirt patterned with laser-cut flames, a pair of blue vinyl shorts, and a pearlescent, sequined skort.  

“With this!” Tooru turns to face Kyouka, holding up a pair of camo cargo pants. One leg’s print is a mix of blacks and grays, while the other consists of varying shades of pink.  

“Huh,” Kyouka hums. “Alright, it’s a look.” 

“Of course, it is!” Tooru’s voice is bubblier than a bubble bath as she flops down beside Kyouka on the bed. “We’re all gonna look so cute tomorrow!”  

After everything that’s happened to Class 1-A, they aren’t unknown to the public. So, as the group Mina rounded up makes its way through the mall, heads turn. For the most part, the teens are left in peace, though several people openly snap pictures of them as they hop store to store. Occasionally, a few young kids run up asking for pictures, though most avoid Bakugou, who looks ten kinds of pissed off anytime the group is approached. Few seem interested in Tooru, and she tries not to take it personally. 

Her classmates have flashier quirks than her, and she’s literally invisible. It’s hard to compete. Despite the nagging voice that tells her she’s the least popular or interesting member of the group, Tooru is determined to have a good time. She’s proud of her classmates. They’re all incredible people. Of course they’d have fans already. The sports festival did a lot for them, and they’re featured in the press more and more, though that’s partially thanks to all the trouble they get dragged into.  

She’s lucky enough to get to know them personally and honored that they’re willing to spend time with her. It’s a charity she doesn’t take for granted, especially with how hard making friends had been before U.A. Still, her low popularity in the press, online, and with the public is an unavoidable hurdle she must overcome if she’s serious about going pro. It also hurts a little — but only if she thinks about it too much. 

“Hey, Tooru,” Kyouka waves her over to a rack, pulling out a black top with mesh layered over it. “You think I could pull this off?” 

“Do I think you could pull it off?” Tooru giggles. “You would rock it.” This remark earns her a playful slap to the shoulder, and Kyouka rolls her eyes.  

“It’s always puns with you, huh?” 

“Not true!” 

“Sure.”   

Tucking the top under her arm, Kyouka twirls an earphone jack around her finger. 

“Wanna help me find some stuff to go with it?” 

It doesn’t take long for Tooru to set Kyouka up with the perfect look, equal parts edgy and cool. After that, Mina claims her attention and drags everyone to the next store.  

This pattern continues for some time. The group loiters about, torn between shopping and goofing off. Tooru talks Kaminari out of buying some ratty jean bracelets, and Mina thanks her profusely, declaring the incident the “save of the day.”  

Everyone but Bakugou, who doesn’t need anyone’s help and screw you for asking, comes to Tooru for her opinion. Somewhere along the way, she’s become the group’s appointed fashion consultant, and she’s not complaining. Her heart sings as the feeling of being wanted wraps her in a warm hug.  

She’s not sure when they started thinking of her as someone who has authority on fashion matters, but it pleases her to no end. It’s nice to have her opinions valued, and she starts to believe that her classmates have been paying more attention to her than she’s realized. 

After a while, the boys decide to head off in search of food while the girls finish up in their current shop. Tooru, satisfied with her purchases, waits for the others to finish trying on their finds. Scrolling through the class group chat, she almost misses the soft, trembling voice that addresses her. 

“Um, excuse me? Invisible Girl?” Behind her, a young boy with a transparency quirk rocks on his heels. 

“Oh! How can I help ya?” Tooru chimes, her voice warmer than fresh baked cookies and equally sweet.  

“I…was wondering if…” Ducking his head, the boy mumbles too low for Tooru to hear.  

“What’s that, hun?” Kneeling down to eye level with the child, Tooru perches her chin on her gloved hand.  

“C-can I get a… p-picture with you?” he stutters, the faintest ghost of rose dusting his barely-visible cheeks. 

“Aww, really?” 

“Mm,” he nods. 

“How could I say no?” Tooru bounces to her feet. “It’s my pleasure!” 

Being stopped in public to be asked for a photo borders on the surreal. Warmth spreads through Tooru’s core, and her heart seizes with unfiltered giddiness.  

“Oh dear!” A woman with filmy, periwinkle skin hastens over, wringing her hands. “I’m so sorry. Haruki slipped away from me. I hope he hasn’t been a bother.” Giving Tooru several apologetic bows, the woman reaches for Haruki’s hand. 

“Not a bother at all,” Tooru chirps, giving the woman an energetic thumbs-up. “If it’s okay with you, Haruki wants a picture. Do you mind taking it for us?” 

“You’re far too sweet. We really shouldn’t trouble you.” 

“No, I insist! It’s not every day I get to meet someone with such a cool quirk, especially one so similar to my own. It would be criminal not to commemorate the occasion!” 

“Mom,” Haruki whispers, tugging at his mother’s sleeve. “It’s her, the sports festival girl I was telling you about.” 

“Oh!” His mother’s eyes go wide, her mouth dropping open. “Of course, we’ll get you a picture, dear.” Turning to Tooru, she added, “I’m so sorry, Invisible Girl. I’ve heard so much about you from my son, but I got carried away worrying. That’s why I didn’t recognize you right away. Please forgive me.”  

Bowing again, the woman offers Tooru a gentle smile before pulling out her phone and gesturing for her son to stand beside Tooru. 

“Alright, ‘Plus Ultra’ on three,” Tooru hums, draping an arm over Haruki’s shoulder. 

“One, two, three!” 

“Plus Ultra!”  

After inspecting the image, Tooru insists on taking several more just to be safe. Haruki’s mother continues to be overly gracious while her son is as bashful as when he first approached Tooru.  

“Um, Invisible Girl?” A nearly imperceptible wrinkle forms above Haruki’s translucent brow. “I really want to be like you someday. You’re confident and fun and… popular.” Twining his fingers together, he looks up at Tooru. “I want to be a hero someday too, but I also really want to have a lot of friends — like you do.” 

Tooru popular? Come to think of it, she does have quite a few friends. Maybe, she’s the one that hasn't been paying attention.  

“Aww, well, wanna know a secret?” 

“Mm.” Haruki nods. 

“Feeling fierce is one of the best ways to build confidence. People like us gotta work harder to be acknowledged, and building a personal brand or style can make that easier. We gotta make people see us for the wonderful heroes we are. Might as well have some fun with it!” 

Haruki’s mouth drops open, wonder twinkling in his glassy eyes. With a soft hum, Tooru continues.  

“But, you also gotta be sure to keep your eyes open. Sometimes, you already have all the friends you need hiding in plain sight. You just gotta make sure you don’t overlook them. If you look out for them, they’ll look out for you. That’s what really matters! Think you can do that?” 

Haruki nods again, this time with feeling. 

Behind him, his mother is sniffling, and Tooru catches her drying her eyes with a handkerchief.  

“Good! Before you go,” Tooru rolls one of her bracelets off of her wrist, “I want you to have this. When you need a little extra boost of confidence, it can remind you that I’m rooting for you!” 

A gasp escapes Haruki, and his eyes go wide as saucers. Radiating excitement, Tooru beckons to him, and he offers her his wrist. After rolling the bracelet onto Haruki’s arm, she pats him on the shoulder. 

“Train hard, look out for your friends, and don’t worry your mom too much, okay?” 

“Okay. Thank you, Invisible Girl.”  

Haruki’s mom pulls Tooru into a warm hug and then clasps her son’s hand. 

“Thank you so much. School has been hard on him, but watching clips of you at the sports festival has really kept him going. I can’t thank you enough, dear.” 

“Glad to help!” Tooru chimes, waving as the pair depart.  

“What was all that?” Waggling her eyebrows, Mina exits the dressing room. She hangs a neon green jumpsuit on the discard rack and turns to Tooru, her eyes shining. “Sounds like you have a fan, huh?”  

“I guess so.” Tooru sways and lets out a content sigh, wrapping her arms around herself.  

“It’s about time! You deserve it, babe. That kid sounded super cute.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Totally! Actually, that reminds me.” Mina fishes her phone out. “We haven’t taken any selfies yet.” 

Grinning, Mina hooks her arm around Tooru’s neck and pulls her closer. While they snap a barrage of carefree and cute selfies, Kyouka wanders out of the dressing room, and Kirishima comes jogging back into the shop.  

“So, Tooru has a fan,” Mina squeals. 

“Of course she does!” Kirishima grins, clenching his fist. “She’s super manly and badass. Who wouldn’t love her?” 

“That’s true,” Kyouka nods. “You should see her Insta. People are all over her outfit of the day posts.” She turns to face Tooru. “Your quirk is kinda perfect for that sorta stuff. Gives you a really unique edge.” 

“Guys!” Tooru waves her hands. “You’re way too nice. You really think so?” 

“Girl, we wouldn’t lie to you,” Mina snorts. “What kind of friends do you take us for?” 

“Aww, I don’t know.” Tooru wrings her hands. “It’s just… really nice to hear all that. You guys are totally the best.” 

Tooru loops arms with Kyouka and Mina, and the group sets off to join the others with Kirishima in tow. They babble about shopping and school, laughing and joking. Tooru decides she owes Mina big time. It’s been too long since they last were able to have this much fun off campus, and she doubts she would have run into her first fan otherwise. 

The whole experience has left her heart full to bursting, and his words haven’t stopped looping in her head. 

“I also just really want to have a lot of friends — like you do.” 

Tooru can’t help the smile that splits her face, and it doesn’t bother her that no one can see it. That doesn’t matter, not when they already see her as someone special: a hero that they can believe in and look to when they need a friend.